Oceanside 
The family of an Oceanside man has asked for the public’s help to find the missing boater, whose running vessel was found on Tuesday in the ocean northwest of La Jolla, about 12 hours after his water-soaked dog was rescued by a stranger on an Oceanside beach.

The FBI has joined the Coast Guard and Oceanside Harbor Police in the search for Loren James Ruden, 52, described as 6 feet 2 inches tall, 185 pounds, with blond-brown hair and blue eyes.

Ruden’s sister, Angie Richards of Oceanside, implored anyone on a boat or even a JetSki to help look for Ruden, a married Oceanside native and father of three who runs commercial fishing charters.

“We need people in the water looking for him,” Richards said Tuesday night.

Ruden is believed to have left Oceanside Harbor with his dog about 11:30 a.m. Monday on his 21-foot Striper fishing boat, “Lucky Dog,” authorities said.

Richards said he went for a pleasure ride with Sadie, his border collie. A man found the dog, soaking wet, near an Oceanside jetty about 5 p.m. Monday. The dog’s collar had a phone number and address. When the phone went to voice mail, the man drove to the address, Ruden’s house, and gave the dog to his wife, Richards said. She called authorities, who began a search.

The crew of a commercial tug found Ruden’s boat, circling with its engine running, about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday about 10 miles northwest of La Jolla, said Coast Guard Petty Officer Connie Gawrelli.

Richards said the family is holding out hope that Ruden, whose flip-flops were found on the boat, will be found alive. She said they don’t know what might have happened or how Sadie ended up on the beach.

“We wish she could speak to us,” she said of the dog, a good swimmer who she said was in good shape when she was returned home.

Ruden’s children, two who were away at college and one who was living in Berkeley, all have returned home, Richards said.

She said her brother, a 1978 graduate of Oceanside High School, is a devoted family man. She said he is in good shape, athletic and a men’s softball player.

“He’s a really good person from a good family who really cares about him,” Richards said.

Richards said her family has lived in Oceanside since 1927. Her father was a former city engineer, and she teaches in Oceanside.

She said the family heard the helicopter crews searching for her brother all day Tuesday. “We’re so appreciative,” she said.